By now I’m sure you’ve all heard the news about the hundreds of people in the northern suburbs who’ve been burned by a scam whereby their card numbers and pins were used without authorization to make transactions, usually about four or five hundred dollars each – so far they’re up to about $100,000 in total, but I read on 780 that some people are not filing police reports, so maybe it’s more?

Today’s Trib now says it’s Aldi’s that is the focus of this theft probe, which is really scary, since I consider them to be pretty legit and their employees should be honest, given that they get decent pay and benefits.  After all, it’s not like working in the salt mines, right?  Or Wal Mart…

well, that’s what I call ’em, anyway.  Three and a half weeks old and already tormenting each other.  Doncha just love sibling rivalry?  3 girls, 2 boys, yorkie/cairn terrier mom and min. (9 lbs) poodle dad.  Destined to be tiny heartbreakers…

That headline is from today’s Tribune.  Pay for Kraft cheese?  Not in my universe, buddy!  What I predict is mfrs raising prices, then issuing more coupons to make people think they’re getting deals.  Most people only use a coupon or two and don’t stock up like we do.  So it’s probably good news for the extreme couponer, although I don’t know where I’d store more cheese…

Read the entire (short) story here.

Just got my 20 Garnier coupons in the mail.  Only ordered them on Tuesday, so was worried I wouldn’t get them in time for the Wags sale and would have to run tons of rainchecks.  She also included some freebie coupons – a nice gesture.  I’d never bought coupons on eBay before and frankly, was concerned.  There was no shipping charge and the coupon price was certainly reasonable.  I’ll definitely use Kalamazoo Clipper in the future.  And no, I am not getting squat to plug this.

I know I’ve mentioned how much I loathe and detest housecleaning, especially vacuuming (well, actually I don’t vacuum at all), so when I saw this Roomba at a garage/moving sale I picked it up.  Seems brand new, has all sorts of goodies with it, so I’m going to set it up and see how it goes.  Also got some other cool stuff at the same place, one being a new in box Tempur-pedic pillow for my husband.  Every once in a while I do something nice for him – it lulls him into a false sense of complacency….then the shoe drops.

Another email from those folks at restaurant.com, with a code for $25 certificates for $3.  I prefer to stock up when it’s slightly cheaper, but if you have never used these before, pick up a couple just to try.

I’ve been very happy with these in the past.  You get to choose your restaurants, the certificates don’t expire and if a restaurant closes or otherwise leaves the program, your certificate is automatically converted to a gift certificate until you redeem it.  Your certificates are banked until you choose to print them out.

When you’ve completed your shopping, put the promo code SPORK in the promo box – guess RUNCIPLE SPOON didn’t fit.

Update:  It’s today, folks!  Gather up all those unexpired, unopened, full-size cereal boxes.  You know, the ones you stocked up on because your kids loved them when you were paying retail, but now act like it’s Chores in a Box you’re pushing.

I think I mentioned this earlier, but the date is now rapidly approaching:
Help fight hunger and get a FREE Grilled Breakfast Sandwich during the 2010 Panera Bread Cereal Drive, Sept. 17 to 19.
Please join us for the 2010 Panera Bread Cereal Drive to help fight hunger in our community. Bring one box of cereal to any participating Panera Bread bakery-cafe in Chicagoland and receive a coupon for a FREE Grilled Breakfast Sandwich.
One coupon per cereal box donation. Donation must be in the form of an unopened cereal box of a minimum 12-ounce size that has not reached its expiration date.

Well, hell’s bells!  Who among us doesn’t have boxes of free cereal?  I’ve read on some sites that certain (maybe all?) Panera locations will have free coffee and samples on Friday morning for those dropping off cereals.

and remember, free food is good food.

The all new Deranged.me t-shirts are finally here.  Modeled here by my PITA daughter, who looks both elegant and angry at the same time (notice the grimace).  If you see her on the street, avoid eye contact.